Travel experiences have been evolving tremendously for the past few years. Not so long ago, the best luxury that you had at a height of 35000 feet was a poorly prepared meal. Today, you have all kinds of things such as your personal flat screens, WiFi, on-demand programming, delicious meals and more.
There was a time when you were dependent on your travel agent for anything to do with travel, but the advent of technology has made travel bookings and planning possible for people all around the world.
Like most other industries, traditional concepts in the travel industry are collapsing in front of technological advances and smarter solutions and also because of the growth of online and mobile tools.
In this article BookMundi explores some of the hottest innovations that could evolve the travel industry to help travelers around the world understand how the travel industry is expected to change in the coming decades.
Emergence of Digital Detox Holidays
Digital overload has become normal for people from all walks of life. Add regular life stresses into the equation and one really needs a break from all that gadget and sensory overload. There are a number of hotels that are now offering travelers brief moments of respite by marketing digital detox holidays for those who want to get away from technology and get back to the simpler things in live such as oil massages and horseback riding tours. What’s unique about destinations offering digital detox holidays is that they let you stay away from technology and gadgets without compromising on the luxury factor.
The following detox tours are highly recommended:
- Horseback Riding in South Italy (Puglia)
- Devil’s Balcony Horseback Riding in Cusco
- Spa Package Tour in Nha Trang
Airports Emerging as Destinations
Airline experiences continue to deteriorate around the world as services go from bad to worse. However, as airline services keep falling down, airports are taking their services to the next level. Many of the best airports around the world are currently busy reinventing themselves to offer the best user experiences. The Incheon International Airport in Seoul and the Changi Airport in Singapore are two airports that are actually seen as major tourist attractions in themselves. Their concepts are centered around innovations like friendlier and more accessible service, simpler signage, hassle-free baggage-claim areas, less intimidating security, airy surroundings, green spaces, exciting shopping options, global cuisines and free WiFi. With people wanting to spend more time at airports and enjoy more experiences, other innovations are also seeing the light of the day. For example, the Chicago O’Hare Airport recently launched a farmer’s market inside its terminal and the Munich airport actually boasts of having an on-site brewery. A few airports in Europe have also introduced the concept of holographic airport staff. The Luton Airport in London presents Graham and Holly to help in making airport security easy to understand and more efficient. These virtual assistants remind passengers of the various restrictions set in place for carry-on baggage and also offer tips to ease security screening. The entire idea is to maximize traveler happiness without having to employ more staff and increase the financial burden on the airport.
The Growth of Food Tourism
Food tourism has emerged as one of the fastest growing sectors in the travel industry. Brands like Whole Foods have come up with concepts like Whole Journeys, where travelers can choose from a variety of worldwide tours that revolve around the production and consumption of all kinds of food. These journeys usually target wealthy and discerning consumers who are more than likely to enjoy the thought of becoming the first set of customers.
Some of the best food tours that you must try:
The Concept of Driverless Cars
Driverless cars is quickly becoming a reality. Once seen as a distant dream, driverless cars are very much possible today. AutoNOMOS Labs tested the first driverless car in September 2011 and similar projects were also run by Google on Nevada roads. These vehicles use multiple cameras to monitor obstacles and traffic lights, internal GPS systems and a computer to direct the car. The cars are expected to help travelers unfamiliar with the rules and roads in a foreign destination deal with things like maps and GPS. They can respond to obstacles and stimuli faster than human drivers, making driving in strange cities a safer experience.
Holographic 3D Displays to Bring Hotels and Attractions to Life
3D remains a niche medium of entertainment even today. The 3D technology available today is quite primitive and can often lead to headaches, but this doesn’t mean that things wouldn’t be changing soon. Many companies around the world are working on solutions to come up with projects that revolutionize the way one looks at 3D experiences. Imagine sitting on your desk and enjoying 3D journeys of places you plan to visit during your upcoming holiday or hotels you want to stay in. Holographic 3D displays will essentially function as Google Earth to help you map out the journey while cameras take snapshots of your trip and help you figure out subjects that interest you the most with the help of complex algorithms.
Space as a holiday destination
Space travel was a debatable subject a few decades ago. Today, space holidays are being talked about. The blueprint to create the very first space hotel is already in place and a lunar hotel, a hotel on the moon, is also expected to take shape by the year 2050. A number of companies such as Virgin Galactic, Space Adventures and XCOR are already accepting reservations for space travel for tourists and Virgin could become the first to send paying customers into space for US $200000.
From enjoying celebrity-chef cuisines on the go to understanding new destinations through virtual reality, there are all kinds of innovations taking place in the travel industry. These innovations have already begun to shape up key travel trends, and they help travelers understand how the world will be traveling in the next few decades.